Electromagnetic control apparatus



y 1933- w. H. REISNER 7 2,115,748

ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

6 F9 as.

W 4/ BY 6 4 ATTORNEY /4 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL APPAEATU S Application March 9, 1935, Serial No. 10,298

4 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to electromagnetic control apparatus and more particularly to a multiple circuit control mechanism which may be actuated upon closing an. electrical circuit with minimum consumption of current both in the actuating-position and in the actuated position.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple circuit controller in which the energy required for maintaining the circuit controller in actuated position is considerably less than the current required in initially actuating'the circuit controller whereby the power consumed by the multiple circuit controller is a minimum.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple circuit controller in which a plurality of contactors may be simultaneously actuated with minimum inertia or lag for controlling a multiplicity of-electrical circuits.

Still another object of my invention is to provide aconstruction of electromagnetic actuator for a multiple circuit controller in which a movable armature imparts movement to any desired form of actuator andcontrols a contactor which 2 modifies the electrical characteristics of the control circuit whereby energy consumption in the control circuit during actuated position of the controller is considerably less than the energy consumption in thecontrolling circuit upon initial impression of :the controlling current upon the electromagnetic actuator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of electromagnetic actuator including an electromagnetic operating winding and a movable armature associated therewith and in which said movable armature when shifted to actuated position operates to automatically con nect an electrical resistance in series with the electromagnetic operating winding of the actu- 4Q ator.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of an electromagnetic actuator and multiple circuit controller as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter 4.; following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in. which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the electromagnetic control apparatus of my invention showing the parts foreshortened in order to illustrate the 50 multiple contactors on as large a scale as possible;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the multiple circuit controller foreshortened in a manner similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the 55 multiple switches on line -33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is (Cl. 200i04) an enlarged elevational View of the electromagnetic actuator showing the actuator in position prior to the energization of the electromagnetic operating winding; Fig. 5 is a View of the electromagnetic actuator showing the parts moved to 5 shifted position when the operating winding is energized; Fig. 6 is an end View of the electromagnetic actuator shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. '7

is a top plan view of the electromagnetic actuator illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6; Fig. '8 is a longi- 10 tuoiinal cross-sectional View taken through the electromagnetic actuator; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through the multiple switch on line 9-9 of 4; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken through the armature limiting adjustable 15 abutment provided on the electromagnetic actuator; Fig. 11 is a. diagrammatic View showing the electrical circuit involved in the electromagnetic control apparatus with the armature moved to unactuated position; and Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the condition of the electrical circuits when the armature is moved to actuated position upon energization of the operating windmg.

The electromagnetic control apparatus of my invention is particularly adapted for controlling the circuits of electric organs in which the switches are used for controlling couplers, swell shades, pipes, and many other mechanical actions in organs, or in various mechanical actions and electrically controlled units. The electromagnetic control apparatus of my invention is also adaptable in the solution of problems in many other arts. I have found that by use of the electromagnetic actuator circuit of my invention, the energy consumption is maintained at a minimum and heating of the actuating windings is negligible. The multiple switches may be compactly assembled by reason of the construction of the electromagnetic actuators which allow the actuators to be mounted in close proximity to each other. A magnetic member provides a support for an electromagnetic operating winding, over, in, on, or independent of which there is wound or attached an electric resistance ele- '45 ment. A movable armature is pivotally mounted in the magnetic frame which supports the actuator and upon energization of the operating winding is shifted from one limiting position to another limiting position. The armature carries an engaging member thereon which establishes electrical contact with a resilient contact member carried by the magnetic frame of the actuator during all times that the movable armature is in the extreme unactuated position thereof.

In this position, the operating winding is disposed in a control circuit which may be energized upon the closing of a contactor at some remote position. When the armature shifts, the engaging member carried by the armature is disengaged from the resilient contact carried by the frame of the actuator automatically introducing the resistance which is associated with the operating winding into a series path in the control circuit leading to the operating winding. The current consumption is automatically cut down, but the holding power of the operating winding remains sufliciently large to maintain the multiple switch in actuated position until the remote controlling c'ontactor is opened. For example, in a circuit which requires 1 ampere for initially shifting the armature, a resistance of, for example, 50 ohms when inserted in series with the operating winding reduces the holding current to .2 ampere assuming a voltage of 10. Thus, the initial operating current at l ampere is reduced to .2 ampere while the holding strength of the operating winding remains sufiicient to maintain the switch in actuated position. The multiple switch is returned to unactuated position upon opening the circuit from the remote contactor in series with the operating Winding of the actuator. Any form of mechanical device may be operated by the electromagnetic actuator of my invention and, in showing a multiple switch, I have not intended that my invention should be limited thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates a base support which is foreshortened in length in order to enable the assembly of circuit controlling devices to be shown on as large a scale as possible. The base provides either a vertical or a horizontal mounting for a multiplicity of electromagnetic circuit controllers constructed in accordance with my invention. I provide mounting means on the base I which includes a set of washer elements 2 which form a flexible suspension by means of screw 3, which extends through the washer elements 2 and through the laterally extending supporting members In. The laterally extending supporting members Ill provide mounting means for the several electromagnetic control devices. The electromagnetic control devices are carried on the longitudinally extending strip members 4, which are in turn mounted on the laterally extending supporting members I 0. The longitudinally extending strip members 4 are each turned upwardly at an angle at the end 22 thereof, each upturned end 22 is slotted as indicated at 23. A securing and adjusting screw 24 passes through the slot 23 in the upturned end 22 of strip 4 and engages by means of the screw threads thereof, a screw threaded aperture in the magnetic yoke 25. The magnetic yoke 25 has the face of one side thereof extending in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the coacting side of the strip 4. The magnetic yoke 25 is slotted. as indicated at 26, which enables screw 21 to extend therethrough and engage aligned screw threaded apertures in strip 4 and laterally extending supporting members Hi. When the electromagnetic control apparatus has been adjusted to desired position by means of screw 24 with said screw 21 in loose position, yoke 25 may be set in the selected position by tight ening set screw 21.

In addition to providing a support for the magnetic yoke 25, the strip 4 serves as a mounting means for the stationary multiple contact system which comprises strips of insulation material shown at 5 and 8, which are superimposed one upon the other and maintained in position by means of the metallic confining strip I, through which screws 8 extend. Laterally extending contact members uniformly spaced apart in groups are indicated at 9, 9', 8", and Q. The wire members forming the contacts are grasped be tween the insulated strips 5 and 6, and are spaced apart at such distance that coasting movable contact members l1, l7, l7, and l'l may coact therewith, and either establish connection or break the connection already made according to the operation of the electromagnetic control apparatus. The movable contact system which coacts with the stationary sets of contacts 9, 9', 9", and 9, is carried by the reciprocable bar member M which is shiftable within predetermined limits to carry the sets of movable contact members l7, H, l'!" and l'i out of or into engagement with the coacting sets of stationary contact wire members 9, 9, 9", or 9". The movable contact members l'!, H, ll, and IT are carried by bar It by means of coacting insulated strips l5 and i5, between which the groups of movable contact members are supported and positively spaced. An insulated plate 69 extends along the length of bar M immediately adjacent the solder terminals of each of the movable contact members ll, ll, H", and l'i'. The connecting leads 24 pass through apertures H3 in insulated plate 19, and connect with the solder terminals of the movable contact members ll, I7, 57", and i'l'. The leads 2i are all bunched progressively as they extend from the movable contact members and are carried out as a flexible cable with sufficient flexibility in the cable to allow limited reciprocal movement of the bar [4. The connections which are made to the stationary contact members 9, 9, 9", and 9", are arprovided with apertures 12 through which con- L:

necting leads may be secured and connected to the solder terminals of the stationary contact members 9, 9, 9", and 9, as schematically shown in Fig. 1. It is understood that the individual leads may all be bunched and carried along the insulated extension plate 5a in a compact manner, and carried off in a small cable to the controlled positions.

Referring more particularly to the electromagnetic operating mechanism, the core 29 is maintained in position by means of screw member 29a which extends through the magnetic yoke 25 or by any other suitable method. An insulated layer of material 3| is provided which extends between the insulated end flanges 3 The electromagnetic operating winding 32 is wound over the insulation 3|, and over the electromagnetic winding there is provided an insulating wrapping 33. The resistance winding 34 is wound over the insulating wrapping 33, and over the resistance winding 3G, there is provided the insulating wrapping 35. As the armature member 40 is attracted by the end of magnetic core 29, the armature 40 moves within limits deter mined by the end of the core 29 on the one hand, and the adjustable stop 36 on the other hand. There is an abutment head 3'! against which the armature member 45 rests in one of its extreme limiting positions. The insulated binding post 38 is mounted in one side of the yoke 25, and is substantially insulated therefrom by means of an insulated sleeve member. 'The binding post 38 provides a supporting means for the spring strip contactor 39 which is bent at an angle to resiliently engage in one of the limiting positions of the armature the-contact 4|, carried by the angularly shiftable armature 40. In the other limiting position of the armature 40 the contact 4| disengages from electrical connection with the contact 39. An insulating sleeve 42 is provided in armature 40 for the purpose of insulating contact 4| from the armature 40. A non-magnetic strip 43 is provided on the face of the armature 4|! to prevent sticking of the armature on the end of the core 29 when the armature is shifted to one of its limiting attracting positions. The pivot 44 in magnetic yoke 25 provides a journal about which the armature rocks. The pin 45 which is carried by armature 40 provides a means for connecting spring 46 with the magnetic yoke 25. The upper end of spring 46 is connected to hook member 41 in yoke 25, while the lower end of spring 46 is connected to pin 45. The armature 40 is provided with a slot 48 through which the moving bar |4 extends. There is a pivotal connection 49 between bar l4 and armature 4D. A flexible lead 50 is provided for connecting contact 4| with the common end of the electromagnetic operating winding 32 and the resistance 34, A lead 5| is provided from one end of resistance 34 to binding post 38, from which connection is made through resilient contact 39, with the contact 4| in one of the limiting positions of the armature 4|]. There is an output lead 52 extending from binding post 38, and another output lead 53 extending from one end of the electromagnetic operating winding 32. The arrangement of the leads is shown in the several figures and the electrical circuit is shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and 12.

Figs. 4 and 8 show one limiting position of the armature 40 with the electrical connection establi'shed between contact 4| and spring strip contactor 39. Fig. 5 shows the opposite limiting position for armature 40 in which the circuit connection between contact 4| and strip 39 is broken. The armature in the course of its movement shifts the moving bar l4, connected with pivotal connection 49 at one end and supported by pivotal connection 54 through link 55 at the other end. Link 55 is connected by means of pivotal c0nnection 56 to the longitudinally extending strip 4, as shown. This arrangement provides a readily shiftable parallelogram link movement by which the angular movement of armature 40 afiects the longitudinal displacement of moving bar M for a sufficient distance to engage sets of contacts H, l1, l1", and |'l', with sets of contacts 9, 9', 9", and 9". By the mechanism of my inven tion the multiplicity of electrical circuits can be rapidly controlled. Moreover, the individual control magnets and the contact systems operated thereby, occupy such a limited amount of space that my controls may be assembled in a small area as represented in Fig. l.

The electromagnetic operating winding 32 which initially produces the magnetic pull which attracts armature 40, produces a substantial magnetic pull on the armature from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12. In the initial position of the armature as illustrated in Fig. 11, resistance 34 is wholly ineffective, but in the shiftable position as illustrated in Fig, 12, resistance 34 becomes effective and in a path connected in series with electromagnetic operating winding 32 cutting down the current consumption, while not detracting sufficiently from the magnetic pull to permit release of the armature. Thus a substantial saving in power consumption is obtained.

While I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than those imposed by the scope of appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. Electrical control apparatus comprising a base, a pivotally mounted supporting bar adjacent each end of said base, a contact carrying bar pivotally mounted on the free ends of said supporting bars, the assembly forming a substantially parallelogram arrangement for longitudinal movement of said contact carrying bar; an electromagnetic actuating device mounted on said base adjacent one end thereof, and including an armature operatively connected with the supporting bar mounted at said end for effectively controlling the movement of said contact carrying bar, and means for adjusting the operation of said electromagnetic actuating device with respect to said contact carrying bar comprising means for adjusting the position of said device including the armature and the said supporting bar operatively associated therewith as a unit.

2. Electrical control apparatus comprising a base, a supporting bar pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said base, a contact carrying bar pivotally mounted on the free ends of said supporting bars, the assembly forming a substantially parallelogram arrangement for longitudinal movement of said contact carrying bar, a plurality of downwardly depending wire-like contacts mounted on said contact carrying bar, and a corresponding plurality of fixed wire-like contacts insulatingly supported on said base, said contacts adapted to coact with a wiping action; an electromagnetic actuating device mounted on said base adjacent one end thereof, and including an armature operativeiy connected with the supporting bar mounted at said end for effectively controlling the movement of said contact carrying bar, and means for adjusting said actuating device including said armature with respect to 7 said base for adjusting said bar and the contacts carried thereby with respect to said fixed contacts.

3. Electromagnetic control apparatus comprising in combination with a base and a bar member mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said base, a magnetic frame structure adjustably mounted on said base for longitudinal adjustment for operation with respect to said base, an actuating winding carried by said magnetic frame structure, and an armature pivotally mounted on said frame structure and operatively connected with said bar member for imparting movement to said bar member under the control of said actuating winding.

l. Electromagnetic control apparatus comprising in combination with a base and a bar member mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said base, a U-shaped magnetic frame structure horizontally disposed on said base, an upturned portion on said base adjacent the closed portion of said U-shaped structure, a screw member rotatably carried by said upturned portion, the closed portion of said U-shaped structure having a screw-threaded aperture engageable by said screw member for longitudinally adjusting structure and operatively connected with said bar the position of said frame structure for operamember for imparting movement to said bar tion with respect to said base; an electromagnct member in adjusted relation and under the conincluding an actuating winding carried by said trol of said actuating winding.

magnetic frame structure, and an armature pivotally mounted on an arm of said U-shaped WILLIAM H. REISNER. 

